Make a choice Braeburn!

by Cadances Paladin

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Sad, Romance
Length: 3252

Will Braeburn follow family traditions, or choose his own path in life?

6 months have passed since Braeburn decided to stay in Ponyville, and Applejack has become worried about her cousin's family in Appleloosa. This is the sequel to this story A burning passion has grown on my red heart read that before this.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-30 23:49:31 UTC

Family traditions?

Braeburn was heading home from his slow working day at the farmer's market. Winter was always so harsh on farmers, especially when it's late winter when it snows. Braeburn found the house he lived in for the six months he had been living in Ponyville, and trudged through snow to get to it. He finally reached the front door, unlocked it with the key he had, and went inside. "Sweetheart, I'm home!" Braeburn called to his marefriend, Nurse Redheart.

Redheart heard Braeburn's arrival from upstairs, and ran down stairs to meet him. "Hey, I'm so glad you made it back!" Redheart said, as she went to the kitchen to get Braeburn and herself something warm to drink.

"Yeah, I'm glad I made it back in general!" Braeburn said, chuckling while he moved towards Redheart. "You know, being outside all day has left me kinda cold." He continued setting down both his, and Redheart's drinks on the coffee table. "Will ya warm me up a bit?" He asked, as he lifted Redheart in the air and threw both of their selves onto the couch, Braeburn being underneath Redheart.

"Sure, I mean you did stay outside at your food stall all day in the cold." Redheart said smiling. The two ponies in love began to kiss, and they let each other's tongues dance together. They both felt the passion each on had for each other, not only this time, but every time they kissed one another. This, however, was short because the phone rang. Braeburn had gotten up, leaving a saddened Redheart at the couch.

"Braeburn ya there?" The pony on the other end of the phone asked.

"Yeah, I'm here. Whadda ya need?" Braeburn asked the pony on the other end.

"Ah need ya to get over to Sweet Apple Acres now!" The pony shouted.

"But I just got home! Why do ya need me over there?" Braeburn asked.

"Just get over here, Ah don't have time to explain this over phone!" The pony said.

"Uggghh.. Fine I'll be over as soon as I can, good bye." Braeburn hung the phone up. "I'm sorry Sweetheart, I gotta go to Sweet Apple Acres. Family thing, I promise." Braeburn said, before kissing his marefriend, hoping to finish what they tried earlier before the phone rang. When they(thankfully in their case) finished, Braeburn left for the apple orchard.

an hour later....

"Ok what is it Applejack? I was trying to spend some time with Redheart!" Braeburn told his cousin.

"That's just th' thing Braeburn." Applejack began. "Ya need to go back to Appleloosa. Ya need to keep family traditions going!" Applejack said, growing angry at her cousin's decisions he made in the past 6 months. "Ya need to go home!"

"No!" Braeburn shouted. "Cousin Applejack, you ponies need me here, ever since Granny-" Braeburn had said before cutting himself off, realizing that he was about to bring up something that Applejack hated hearing about. "Look, Y'all need me here, that's the point. Besides, I'm happy living here with Redheart, I've become familiar, and friends with many ponies her as well. If you need me, I'll be headin' home." And with that, Braeburn left the Apple Orchard, once more traversing the snow capped land.

Braeburn made it back to Redheart's place, which he now considered his home. He went inside, and saw a worried Redheart. "Is everything ok, did another family member die?" Redheart asked, worried for Braeburn's cousins.

"Nah, everything's fine. It's just...." Braeburn said. "It's just that Applejack wants me to go back to Appleloosa, to uphold family traditions." Braeburn said, heading to the couch to sit down and drank his cocoa that Redheart made earlier.

"Family traditions?" Redheart asked, wondering what kind of traditions they could've been.

"Yeah, and the apple family tradition, is to have an apple farm in one place, and when ya settle yer apple farm in that one place, ya gotta live there for the rest of yer days." Braeburn began. "I'm technically breaking the tradition by staying here in Ponyville with ya." Braeburn buried his face into his hooves. "Oh, why does this have to happen to me?"

Redheart went to comfort Braeburn. "Well, you could start a new family tradition." She said, giving Braeburn a devious smile. Braeburn knew what she meant, she wanted them to have kids.

"Hey, I'm kinda cold again." Braeburn said with a devious smile "Can ya warm me up again?" He asked, before pulling Redheart into a more passionate kiss then like the one from earlier. "So, am I forgiven for haven to leave?" Braeburn asked.

Redheart giggled like a school filly. "Maybe. Hey, I got a present for ya. I finished it when you left." Redheart said, going over to the book shelf, pulling a wrapped box from behind it. "Happy anniversary Braeburn." Redheart said, kissing Braeburn on the cheek. Braeburn opened the present, only to be surprised by what he saw inside...

Redheart made a photo album of everything they two ponies did in the past six months. It started with Braeburn and Redheart at Redheart's house after they left the train station, then Braeburn flipped a couple of pages, to see a picture of Redheart in a swim suit lying next to him at the watering hole outside of town, with Braeburn sleeping, having eating a lot. Braeburn chuckled "I guess I shouldn't have eaten all that food, I missed this moment." He turned the page, to see a picture of him sound a sleep in the garden in their back yard. "Oh yeah, I remember this day. I was watering the plants, and I had been working harder that day, and I guess I just wore myself out." Braeburn put down the photo album, then gave Redheart a passionate hug. "Thank you Sweetie, I love it."

Redheart began to cry tears of love. "Your welcome. Happy anniversary baby." Braeburn had continued the passion filled hug, holding Redheart and giving her the warming love from his heart, then broke the hug and said "Hey, you wanna continue this upstairs, in th' bedroom?" Redheart knew what he was asking, and quickly agreed, eager to spend their anniversary together for the rest of the day, alone.

Two hours went by(yeah, two hours. Get over it ok?) and the couple was lying in bed, sweaty from their recent... actions, so to say. "Huh.... Wow Braeburn that was.. huh huh.... wonderful!" Redheart said to her stallionfriend.

"Huh huh.... yeah.... Best time of my life so far... to be honest huh huh..." Braeburn said, trying to smile at his marefriend. After a while of waiting, they both were able to take their much needed showers. They went downstairs to watch some Hearts Warming T.V. specials. They began to watch one about a small colt who had to learn about what Hearts Warming was actually about, when a commercial came on for the farmer's market.

"Hey Braeburn, I wanna know something." Redheart said. "Are you going to keep your family traditions going?" Redheart asked, looking Braeburn in the eyes.

"Well I want to Sweetheart, but I just can't." Braeburn said. "Look, Ah don't wantcha worrying about me. I'm stayin' here with ya honey." Braeburn said, hugging Redheart, squeezing her until she had begun to tap on his back, signaling him to let go. "Hehe... sorry Sweetheart." Braeburn apologized.

"It's ok Braeburn, no need to worry." Redheart said, pulling Braeburn in for another make out session, one much similar to the one they had earlier. This time though, the kiss felt like it lasted more than an eternity, it felt like time had completely stopped, and that no pony but them was moving.

When Braeburn broke the kiss, for a breath brake, he said "You know, I'm probably the luckiest stallion. I know it's a cliché to say that, but I really do feel like the luckiest stallion. You're really beautiful, but that's not why I love you." Braeburn said.

"Then why do you love me?" Redheart asked, curious as to why her stallionfriend wasn't in love with her looks alone.

"Redheart, I love you because you helped me re-learn who Ah was, who mah family was, and more importantly, the things Ah did in my life. And most importantly, you wanted to tell me your true feelings, even when Ah was about to leave for a long while. But, Ah couldn't leave, Ah came to mah senses. Ah love you Redheart, and Celestia knows it herself." Braeburn explained. "Happy anniversary Sweetheart." Braeburn said, pulling Redheart in for another kiss.

Love is in bloom!

For the next couple of months, until spring had come, Braeburn and Redheart had done almost everything together while they waited for Braeburn's crops to grow again. One day, they were working out on the crops Braeburn had began growing for the farmer's market stall he had. "Ok Sweetheart, I need ya to get me the hose... Sweetheart?" Braeburn asked, just noticing that Redheart had went inside. "Hmm... I guess now is as good as ever." Braeburn said to himself, heading out into town with a bag of money he'd been saving up.

Braeburn looked for the jewelry store in town, thinking about giving up. As he was about to give up, he bumped into Twilight. "Oh, sorry Twilight!" Braeburn apologized "Hey, d'ya know where the jewelry shop is? I wanna get Redheart something nice for our date t'night!" Braeburn said. "Oh yeah!" Twilight said "Just go to the farmer's market, go south, and take a right at Sugar Cube Corner, and you'll see it straight ahead. Good luck on your date tonight!" Twilight said. "Thanks Twilight!" Braeburn said, galloping off to the jewelry store.

While Braeburn was out, Redheart had went to Sweet Apple acres, to see Applejack. "Hey Applejack, I was wondering something." Redheart began "Do you know any restaurant out in town that's fancy for me and Braeburn's date tonight?" She asked. Applejack stopped dead in her tracks. 'Ah can't believe their going THE date that Braeburn told me 'bout! Ah gotta come up with something to try to convince Braeburn t' head home. But Ah can't, Ah respect his decisions, but he needs t' uphold family traditions!' Applejack thought to herself. "Uh.. Applejack?" Redheart asked, getting Applejack's attention. "Oh, sorry 'bout that Redheart. Ah do know 'bout this one place out n town. Ah think it's called the," Applejack said " 'Cracker Trough'?" She continued, trying to say the name without her accent. "Oh, thanks Applejack!" Redheart said, then went home to her stallionfriend.

Braeburn sat at the living room couch, holding the present he got Redheart, hoping that she'd accept it. As Braeburn began to look at the present more, he heard the front door open, so he quickly closed the small box the present was in, and hid it underneath the couch cushions. "Hey Sweetheart, how are ya?" Braeburn asked, trying to look as casual as he could. "I'm doing good Honeybun, I found us a restaurant to go to tonight for our date!" Redheart said, heading to the couch to sit next to Braeburn. When Redheart sat down, however, the cushion beneath her felt uncomfortable. "Hey, is this cushion uncomfortable to you?" Redheart said, getting up and pushing Braeburn onto the cushion.

Braeburn couldn't believe that she sat on the cushion with his present to her, why didn't he place it underneath his cushion?! "Nope, not that Ah can feel!" Braeburn lied, actually feeling extreme discomfort whilst sitting on the couch cushion. "Ok, I'm going to go take a shower before we go." Redheart said, muzzling Braeburn's neck. Braeburn always enjoyed it when Redheart did this, which was rare in their household and in general! "Ok, Ah'm gonna go outside fer a bit..." Braeburn said, then went out to the garden in the backyard. He went to check on a special bush he planted.

Yep, the Heartrose bush was blooming. Braeburn had learned a lot about different kinds of flowers when he was left with nothing. Tending to the garden was his way of getting stress taken out of his system. Making something as(almost) beautiful as his marefriend, it made him happy. The Heartrose bush was starting to bloom(as stated before), and Braeburn had known that when a Heartrose bush begins to bloom the Heartroses, that love is strong between two ponies.

The time came, and Braeburn and Redheart went on their date. When they arrived at the "Cracker Trough" Applejack was way off! The restaurant was in no means fancy, in fact, it was more a family place then a fancy place. "Did Applejack lie about this place?" Redheart asked Braeburn. "Ah dunno, but let's head for our table!" Braeburn said, carrying a small box in his saddle bag. When they got to their table, they were immediately asked about their drinks. "Ah'll have a light beer please?" Braeburn said to the waitress. "And I'll have a green tea please?" Redheart said to their waitress. The waitress spent no time in returning with their drinks, and then asked about their meals. When their meals arrived, Braeburn was given his rose bud sandwich(his now favorite sandwich), and Redheart got her sunflower salad.

The two ponies ate their food, but Redheart looked disappointed a bit. "What's wrong Sweetheart? Ya hardly ate your salad." Braeburn stated as if it wasn't obvious. "Well, I just wanted to go somewhere fancy for our anniversary." Redheart said, looking around themselves at the scenery. "Oh Sweetheart, ya didn't need to try to find us some fancy place, Ah'm fine with any old family restaurant." Braeburn said, getting out the small box he got earlier that day. "Hey, Redheart, there's somethin' Ah've been meanin' to ask ya." Braeburn said. Redheart looked up from her food, thinking that his question was about getting some more tool supplies for their house. "Yeah, what is it?" Redheart asked, as she saw Braeburn pull out the small box.  Braeburn opened it, revealing a necklace with an emerald smacked into the middle of the locket that hung from it.

"Will ya marry me, Nurse Redheart?" Braeburn asked, now kneeling on one knee, holding out the box to Redheart. Redheart began to cry, not loudly, but tears ran down her face "Of course I will Braeburn! You're the only pony for me, and I want you to be mine!" Redheart said, throwing her legs onto Braeburn, and began to hug him with all the passion she could give him. Braeburn hugged Redheart back, and then paid the check for their meal.

As they went home, the spotted a karaoke club, and took a chance at some good singing. "Ok, so am Ah blue?" Braeburn asked laughing. "Yeah, you're blue and I'm red!" Redheart said "And purple is both of us!"

" Well now Ah've seen the world! But mah story still, needs to be unfurled!"

" I thought I'd never need a stallion to help me in life. But now, I wanna be your wife!"

"Ah thought Ah was crazy, Ah thought Ah was losing mah mind! Ah thought that mah heart was making me blind!"

"But now I helped you see! That you're the one for me!"

" But now we have each other! We won't need another! We've got each other! But don't go for another! All we need now is to be together! We'll always be there, through any kind of weather! All we need now, is each other. Each other! Each other! Eaaaccch oooooothhhhheeerrrrrrrr!"

The two ponies got a giant amount of applause from the audience before them "That was great!" Redheart said. "Yeah it was! Hey, you wanna head home and...." Braeburn began before going to whisper into Redheart's ear. "Oh Braeburn, you are a naughty stallion, aren't you?" Redheart asked in a teasingly, yet arousing(to Braeburn) way.

Y'all are what now!?

The two ponies in love began to plan their wedding, but kept it a secret to almost everypony around them. The only ponies that got to know where Rarity, the Cakes, and Twilight who was to be the minister for their wedding. Now that she was a princess, she had the authority to marry two ponies. Redheart and Braeburn gathered the ponies at their house, and began to explain everything.

"Ok, so me and Redheart have decided on gettin' married." Braeburn announced, holding Redheart in his arms, while the couple sat on the living room couch. "Yes, me and Braeburn have decided on getting married, but you all have to make a Pinkie Pie promise." Redheart said, to which everypony had sat quietly and surprised at what they heard.

"What is it you two?" Twilight asked, desperately wondering what they had to keep quiet about.

"None of y'all can tell Applejack about this. If she finds out... She'll force me t'go home. I know Applejack respects others' decisions, but she also wants me t'go home and back to working on the Appleloosa Apple family apple farm." Braeburn explained.

"Ok, everypony else agree?" Rarity said first. Everypony else in the house agreed to this, and kept silent for the rest of the week.

A couple of months went by, and Braeburn and Redheart were about to get married.

"Now, does anypony have any reason that these two ponies should not be married? If not, then let these two be wed, and forever hold their peace." Twilight announced. For a moment, no pony said anything, but somepony finally had a reason. "Ah do!" A familiar voice said "They shouldn't be wed, cause mah cousin didn' tell mah 'bout this weddin' in th' first place!" When Braeburn turned around, he saw an apple red Applejack.

"Look, Applejack, this is mah choice! Ah want this t' be mah life!" Braeburn said, walking towards his angered cousin. "Why do you really want me to leave Ponyville?" He demanded to know.

"Because Ah don't see a single reason fer ya to stay here in th' first place!" Applejack shouted.

"So, the fact that Ah found a mare that loves me, isn't even a reason?" Braeburn asked, now looking sad.

Applejack realized what she did, and began to feel regret for what she said. "Ah-Ah'm sorry Braeburn... it's just that, well, ya've lived in Appleloosa fer so long, and that family traditions is important in this family, I was beginning to feel like ya were leaving th' family." Applejack said. "Get on, get yerself married."

"Thank ya Applejack." Braeburn said. When Braeburn returned to the alter.

"Ok, so, if there are no more objections, I now pronounce this couple, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!" Twilight announced.

Redheart and Braeburn walked closer to each other, then shared what felt like the most passionate kiss they ever had with one another. Everypony shouted in joy, and glee, as the two ponies had now been married.

After the party, the two began to leave. "Hang on, I've gotta take care of something." Redheart said, as she closed her eyes, and threw her bouquet. The two ponies entered a carriage, and looked at one another. "So, ready fer the best honeymoon of yer life?" Braeburn asked, then kissed his wife. "You bet, my husband." Redheart began. "You know... You made a choice Braeburn. And I love the choice you made." Redheart said, as she went on to kiss her husband. The carriage left the town, and was heading for the train station. The train later left for Canterlot, where the two ponies would begin their honeymoon.